Railway car



.muy 111, 1933.

RAILWAY CAR W. F. DIETRICHSON Filed May 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 11, 1933.

W. F. DIETRICHSON RAILWAY CAR Filed May 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July H, 1933. w. F. DIETRICHSON RAILWAY CAR Filed May 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l WILLIAM F. DIETRICHSON, F WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN CAB AND FOUNDRY SECURITIES CORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A

conromi'iuoit or DELAWARE RAILWAY CAR Application mea May 2s,

This invention relates generally to railway cars, and has particular referencerto refrigerator cars.

One object of this invention is the provi- 5 sion of a railway car which is refrigerated by a solidified mass of an inert material which at ordinary pressures and temperatures is a gas and which upon increase in temperature, passes directly from its Asolid to a -gaseous state without an intermediate liquid stage.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a car which is refrigerated by solid carbon dioxide.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved refrigerator car. u

Another object of the present invention 1s the provision of ya refrigerator car in which 2@ the usual end bunkers are omitted whereby to provide a clear loading space from end to end of the car. v

A further object of this invention is the provision of a refrigerator car having the '25 refrigerating system therefor maintained and supported adjacent the roof of the car.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a refrigerator car, cooled by solid carbon dioxide, in which car the refrigerating system is wholly contained adjacent the car roof whereby to provide a clear loading space from end to end of the car.

The invention further contemplates a refrigerator car having the Igreater part of the refrigeration system arranged adjacent and permanently connected to the car roof.

Another object of the invention is the prc- 40 vision of a refrigerator car having a roof which is freely detachable from the car body,

which roof has the greater part of the refrigeration system permanently secured thereto whereby the roof and refrigeration system may be fabricate-d as an independent unit separate and distinct from the car body.

The car of the present invention contemplates a construction in which the refrigerant is distributed over the full-length of the car from end to end and adjacent the car roof,

1930. Serial N'o. 456,488.

to effect even and uniform temperatures in vthe car.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a refrigerator car adapted to be cooled by circulation of air into and out of contact with closed containers holding solid carbon dioxide, the specific gravity of the air cooled by contact with thev closed containers being utilized to establish and maintain circulation of air in the car.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a railway car, more particularly a refrigerator car which is `adapted to be cooled by circulation of air into and out of Contact with closed met-al containers hol-ding solid carbon dioxide in thermal conductive relation to the interior of the car; the c'ar body being provided with air deflecting means arranged in a plane lower than the containers and provided with air passages to permit air to be passed into contact with the metal containers to be cooled, the partition also being provided with air outlet passages for permitting down iow of the coole-d air into the body below the par- -tition whereby to refrigerate articles retained in said body.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a portion of a car embodying the present invention; the view being taken through a portion of the car roof and showing a portion of the interior of the car adjacent one end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a top plan'view of the construction shown in Fig. l, certain parts being broken away and others being illustrated in section. I

` Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the car of the present/invention; the view looking towards one end of the car and the left hand portion of the view being taken at one of the hatches while the right hand portion of the view istaken between hatches.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the femov- 100 able roof of the car, the left hand portion of the view being taken at one of the hatches while the right hand portion of the view is taken between hatches; the view also showing a modification of the solid carbon dioxide containers.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5, Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66, Fig. 4.

The drawings disclose only certain parts of a car, as the remaining parts may be of usual construction. The details of the ear construction are omitted except where they pertain specifically to the present invention, as it is understood that the system of the present invention may be satisfactorily applied to any type of refrigerator car.

In Fig. 3 it can be seen that the car com! prises generally a bottom 2, sides 4, and a removable roof 6. The bottom, sides and top may be formed of any desired or suitable material but in the instance shown they are illustrated as formed of insulating material 8, lined with wood 10, and provided with a steel or other metallic sheathing 12.

The body may be stiifened with the usual stringers (not shown) and the roof is provided with carlins 14 and purlins 16, each embedded in the insulating material of which the roof is formed.

In the car of the present invention the roof is freely detachable from the body and is formed as an independent unit. To eifect a :strong construction, the upper edges of the car body sides and ends are provided with stringers 18 which, at their ends, are con-` nected together in any suitable mannerto form a substantially rectangular frame for Ysupporting the roof 6 as hereinafter more specifically pointed out. Embedded in the side and end walls at'the inner upper edges thereof are stringers 2O on which the stringers 18 are mounted and to which they are .secured by bolts 22. Obviously the stringers 18 and 20 may be integrally formed if desired.

The stringers 18 are preferably of the form I shown clearly in section in Fig. 3 and have supporting shoulders 26 which extend from end to end of the car and across the ends and which are lined with sheet metal 28 having a down turned flanged portion 30 overlapsping the upper edge of the wood liner 10. ecured to each of the stringers 18 by means of bolts 31 is an angle 32, the horizontal leg 34 of which extends outwardly from the car body. The purpose of the angle 32 will be hereinafter more fully described.

The roof 6 of the car shown, as before mentioned, includes the carlins 14 embedded in the roof insulation. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the ends of the carlins are connected by rivets 36 or other suitable fasteners toangle pressings 38 which, in turn, are secured by rivets 40 to clips 42 (see Fig..2) which latter are connected in any suitable manner to the horizontal legs of angles44 which rest on horizontal roof stringers 46 arranged along the edges of the roof and bolted to the vertical legs of the angles 44 as shown at 48; the stringers 46 extending along the side edges of the roof rand across the ends thereof to form a substantially rectangular frame around the lower edge of the roof of substantially the same size as the' rectangular frame along the upper edges of the car body, sides and ends. The stringers 46 are preferably of the form shown clearly in Fig. 3 and are lined with sheet metal 49 and have a portion thereof cut away to define -an enlarged portion 50 which, when the roof is in position -on the body extends into the cut away portions of stringers 18. When the roof is in position on the body the frame of the body supports the roof as shown in Fig. 3 and the roof is firmly secured to the body by bolts 52 which extend through the horizontalleg 34 of the angle 32 and through the horizontal Webs 54 of Zs 56. The Zs 56 have one leg thereof extending upwardly between the before mentioned an les 44 and the roof sheathing andare secure in position by the before mentioned bolts 48. There has thus been eifected a strong and durable connection of'the roof and ear body.

The car of the present invention is designed to be maintained at a desired low temperature by a refrigeration system formed in and secured to the car roof. The refrigerant used is solid carbon dioxide and for holding the same, closed containers indicated generally roo at 60 are provided which are arranged adjav may be termed the two upper sides 62 and 64- respectively of the containers are insulated by suitable insulating material 66 which, in effect, forms a part of the car roof. The car roof is provided with a liner 68 which extends over the containers as shown at 7 0 and which may be of any desired or suitable material such as wood, metal or insulating material.

For securing the containers in position, metal supports are provided, the same being plates 72 extending longitudinally of the car and each having a flange 74 at its upper edge by which the plates may be secured by suitable fasteners which extend through the flanges 74 into the purlins 16; said plates depending from the car roof and having their lower edges bent or flanged as at 78 tolie against the lower sides 80 of the containers, and said bends or flanges 78 are preferably secured to the sides 80 by welding.

The metal liners 49y heretofore referred to extend from the stringers 46 to the lower sides 82 of the containers between adjacent hatches (hereinafter described) and are connected to said sides by being welded thereto. At the hatches,.as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the metal liners 49 are upwardly flanged. The construction just described provides an arrangement in which the containers are exposed within the car while still providing for an effectual insulation of said containers against outside heat which may tend to pass through the car roof. This it is obvious, prevents sublimation or evaporation of the solid carbon dioxide by heat conducted through the roof.-

At various points along each side of the roof, hatches are provided to permit the inu sertion of solid carbon dioxide into the containers. One of these hatches is clearly shown in Fig. 3, the saine being provided with a sheet metal liner 84 the lower end of which overlaps the upturned flange of the liner 49 and which liner 84 extends to and is rigidly connected in any desired manner to the container 60, thereby serving to support the latter. Obviously the containers 60 at the hatchways are provided with openings to permit the insertion of solid carbon dioxide.

The hatchways are each provided with the usual plug (not shown, as-the same is conventional) and with a hatch cover 86.

The hatch plugs and covers, it will be seen,

` provide means for preventing to a large extent, the escape of carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere and while some gas will escape through the hatches theescape is retarded to such an extentthat gas subliming or evaporating from the solid carbon dioxide will fill the container around the solid carbon dioxide therein, thus excluding the air from the containers and forming a blanket of insulating cold gas around the solid carbon dioxide which, it will be apparent, results in a retardation of evaporation of the solid carbon dioxide. Therefore with this description in mind, the containers 60 are term-ed closed containers. In' other words, it is apparent that the solid carbon dioxide in the container 60 is not in bathing contact with air, and therefore the rate of sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide is retarded. T he container 60 f being closed, as described, obviously prevents the gas subliming from the solid carbon di- Fig. 1. These connections comprise hollow shells or ducts 88 of substantial depth into which the gas subliming from the solid carbon dioxide may pass fromthe containers 60. In practice, the containers are slotted at the point of attachment of the ducts 88, and the latter have their ends flanged as at 90 (see Fig. 3) and welded, soldered or otherwise secured. to the containers. Obviously instead of slots in the containers to establish communication between the containers and ducts, the containers may be provided with one ormore vertically arranged series of openings. Arranged substantially midway of the ducts, and extending upwardly therefrom through the car roof are vent pipes 92 having their upper ends reversely bent as at 94; the vent pipes serving to permit escape of carbon dioxide gas from the ducts 88 to the atmosphere. It willbe apparent from the following description that the carbon dioxide gas by the time it reaches the vents 92 will have increased in temperature sufficient to permit the same to rise and pass out through the vents, or if not of sulicient temperature .to rise in the ducts to escape through the vents, it will be warmer than the remaining gas and will be formed of any suitable or desired material' such a. wood planks 96 which are secured to rafters or transverse wood Abeams 98 shown clearly in Flg. 1. For rigidifying the ceiling the beams 98 are secured, as by bolts 100,

to the Vertical legs of transversely extending angles 102. At each end of the angles 102 1s a gusset 104 and the angles 102l are secured ,in position in the car body by being fastened by rivets 106 to the horizontal' legs of angles 108, the vertical legs of which lat'- ter are bolted at 110 to the side stringers 20.

At intervals throughout the length of the car and substantially midway between the car sides, the ceiling is provided with openings to permit air from the car body to pass through the ceiling. These openings are surrounded by vertical ilanges or barriers 111 which extend upwardly from the ceiling, and

a grille or screen 112 is arranged in each open' ing as shown clearly in the drawings. These openings or passagewa'ys are termed inlet openings as air 1n the body below the ceiling is permitted to enter the space above the ceiling, which space may be termed the cooling zone as the air is cooled' therein.

Formed in the ceiling C at intervals and arranged adjacent the'sides 4 of the body, are outlet openings each having a screeny or grille 114 therein. As shown clearly in Fig. 2 these outlet openings are not'transversely alined with the inlet openings but are staggered with respect to the latter; this arrange- .ment being provided in order to compel air connect at their ends with longitudinally ex-` tending gutters 118 mounted on the ceiling and arranged beneaththe containers 60. These gutte-rs 116 and 118 are provided for the purpose of collecting any condensate from either the ducts 88 or the containers 6() which may drip therefrom. Such condensate will pass from the gutters 118 to down drains 120 f' arranged at one end of the car as shown' in Fig. 3.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 disclose a modified formv of the invention to the extent that the containers which are designated at 122 in these figures are arranged so that the bottoms 124 thereof are horizontal.

In this 'form ofthe invention, the containers 122 are supported by bars 126 arranged against the bottoms 124 and supported by tie bolts 128 connected to strips 130. The strips 130 are preferably of insulating material, though obviously they may be of any material desired, and they depend from the car roof. The strips 130 are connected to the car roof by being secured to the purlins 16 by suitable fasteners such as the bolts 132.

Connecting the containers 122 shown in Fig. 4 are ducts 134 which are secured in position by cross bars 136 arranged beneath the ducts substantially midway of the ends thereof. The cross bars 136 are supported by bolts 138 which extend therethrough-011 each sideof the ducts 134 and pass through a hanger 140 attached to the car roof a clearly shown in Fig. 6.

While it is believed the construction of the car of the present invention will be fully apparent to those skilled in the art, a brief vdescrlption thereof together with the operation of the system embodied therein is given herewith. Considering the parts as shownl in Fig. 3, a refrigerant is inserted in the containers 60, which containers are in effect, conduits extending longitudinally of the car. This invention contemplates the use of solid carbon dioxide and this refrigerant isinserted in the containers 60 through the hatchways. It will be apparent thaty -when the usual hatch' plugs are placed in the hatch- Ways and the hatch covers 86 arranged in position, the containers 60 are substantially closed against the inlet of outside air. The

solid carbon dioxide will, of course, provide a very cold area adjacent the containers 60. Gas subliming from the solid carbon dioxide termed the'cooling zone. The air will pass beyond the barriers or flanges which surround the inlet openings and will Contact with lthe ducts 88 and the temperature of the airwill be reduced. The air will then pass into intimate contact with the very 'cold walls of the containers 6() and be further reduced in temperature and will pass from the cooling zone through the outlet openings into the lading zone of the car body. Itis to be noted here that circulation of -air is established and maintained due to the specific gravity of the air cooled in the cooling zone by contact with the ducts 88 andthe containers 60 and that such circulation is maintained throughout the entire car body for the reason that the containers 60 extendfrom end to end of the car or to be more exact the system of the present invention extends from end to end of the car adiacent the roof thereof.

The drawings herein illustrate one embodiment of the invention but it is to be Vunderstood thatthis is merely by way of exampleas obviously various changes in the form and proportions of the construction illustrated maybe made Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.`

What is claimed is: p

1. In a railway car, a car body,a car roof, longitudinally extending closed conduits holding solid carbon dioxide secured to the l car roof adjacentthe sides of the latter, tran'sversely extending conduits connecting said 'to gaseousstate without an intermediate Vliquid stage, and a duct connecting said containers.

3. In a railway car, a body, a roof, closed containers holding solid carbon dioxide formed with the'roof and extending longitudinally thereof adjacent each side, transversely extending ducts connecting said containers for receiving gas evaporating from the solid carbon dioxide, vent means from the transverse ducts to the atmosphere, a ceiling in the car body below the containers and ducts and provided with air inlets arranged along substantially the center line of the 5 body, air outlets formed in the ceiling adjacent the side walls of the body, and means on the ceiling for collecting condensate from the containers and ducts.

4. In a railway car, la body, a roof, closed containers holding solid carbon ldioxide formed with the roof and extending longitudinally thereof adjacent each side, transversely extending ducts connecting said containers for receiving gas evaporating Jfrom the solid carbon dioxide, vent means from the transverse ducts to the atmosphere, a ceiling in the car body below the containers and ducts and provided with air inlets arranged along substantially the center line of the body, and air outlets formed in the ceiling adjacent the side w-alls of the body.

5. A refrigerating apparatus including a chamber to be cooled, spaced closed containers in the upper part of said chamber, and a conduit connecting said containers Iand receiving gas evaporating from the solid carbon dioxide, and a partition in the upper part of the chamber immediately below the containers, said partition being provided wlth air inlet and outlet openings to permit 4air below the partition to pass through the partition into contact with the containers and conduit to be cooled and then expelled through the outlet openings.

6. In combination, a body comprising a chamber to be cooled, spaced containers in .the upper portion of said chamber for holding solidiied carbon dioxide, a duct connecting said containers, and an outliow conduit from the duct extending upwardly beyond the body for discharging gas outside the body.

7. In combination, a body comprising a chamber to be cooled, oppositely arranged spaced containers in the upper portion of the chamber for holding solidiiied carbon dioxide, a .horizontal duct extending between and connected to said containers for receiving gas evaporating from the solidified carbon dioxide, a vent extending upwardly from the duct and discharging outside the body, a partition in the upper portion of the chamber immediately below the containers and duct, and air inlet and outlet means formed in said partition.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a chamber to be cooled, spaced closed containers in said chamber, each holding solidified carbon dioxide, a duct connecting said containers and receiving gas subliming from said solidified carbon dioxide, and means for guiding-air in the chamber into contact with the duct and containers whereby to cool said air, said. means comprising a partition arranged in the upper part of the chamber below said containers, and extending from side to side and end to end of said chamber, said partition being provided With an air inlet adjacent the conduit so that warm air passing therethrough will rst contact with said conduit to be reduced in temperature and then contacts with the containers where it is further reduced in temperature, and air outlets adjacent the walls of the chamber for directing the cooling air through the partition. f

9. In a railway car, a car body, a removable roof orthe body, means Jformed with the roof for holding solid carbon dioxide, said means being closed against escape of gas into the interior of the car body, and insulation for the car roof partially enclosing the solid carbon dioxide holding means.

10. In a railway car, a roof, refrigerant holding containers secured to the roof, insulation for the roof partially enclosing said containers, and an inner roof lining extended at least partly over said containers.

11. In a railway car, a roof, longitudinally arranged refrigerant holding containers secured to and forming parts of said roof, a lining secured to the roof and partially enclosing said containers, a transversely arranged conduit connecting said containers and arranged in spaced relation with respect to the roof, and supporting means for the transversely arranged conduit extending from the roof.

12. In a railway car, a roof, containers holding solid carbon dioxide secured to the roof, insulation for the roof partially covering said containers, and air controlling means secured to the car sides below the containers for directing air into surface contact with the exposed portions of the containers whereby it is cooled, means permitting down flow of cooled air below the controlling means, the specific gravity of the cooled air setting up and maintaining circulation of air in said body, said containers being closed against escape of gasninto the body.

13. In a railway car, a roof, containers holding solid carbon dioxide secured to the roof, insulation for the roof partially enclosing said containers, and a partition secured to the car sides below the containers for directing air from below the partition into surface contact with the-exposed portions of the containers whereby it is cooled, said partition having means-therein for directing cooled air into the body below the partition, the specific gravity of the cooled air setting up and maintaining air circulation in said body, said containers being closedagainst escape of gas into the body.

14. In an air-cooled refrigerator car, a roof, longitudinally and transversely arranged containerssupported by the roof and holding carbon dioxide gas in thermal'conductive relation to the interior of the car, a` partitlon secured to the car sides below the containers for directing air into surface contact with the latter whereby it is cooled, down flow passages formed in the partition for permittingfdown flow of the cooled air into the car body, said containers .being closed against escape of gas into the body.

15. In a railway car, longitudinally extending refrigerant holding containers secured to the roof along the sides thereof, transverse conduits connecting said containers, and a horizontally arranged air deiiecting partition secured to the sides of the car and arranged entirely below the containers and conduits;

16. In a railway car, a body, a removable roof therefor, longitudinally arranged closed solid carbon dioxide containers secured to the roof, a roof lining partially enclosing the containers, transverse conduitsspace from the roof and connecting said containers to receive gas subliming from the solid carbon dioxide, vent means for the carbon dioxide gas extending through the roof, and air deflecting means secured to the car body below the containers and conduits.

17. In a railway car, lon 'tudinall arranged closed containers hol ing soli carbon dioxide secured to the roof of the ca-r, conduits connecting said containers and receiving gas from the containers, means for venting the gas from the conduits outside the car, and an air controlling partition in the body below the containers and conduits.

18. In a railway car, a body, an air delecting partition arranged in the body, a removable roof for the body, closed containers holding solid carbon dioxide secured to the roof, transverse conduits connecting the containers and receiving gas therefrom, vent means from the conduits through the roof, and insulation secured to the roof and partlally enclosing the containers.

19. In a railway car, a car body, a roof, spaced closed metal containers holding solid carbon dioxide in thermal conductive relation to the interior of the body built into the roof, and a duct connecting said containers adapted to receive gas subliming from the solid carbon dioxide.

20. In a railway car, a body, a roof, spaced closed metal containers holding solid `carbon dioxide in thermal conductive relation to the interior of the body secured to the roof, a duct connecting said containers adapted to receive carbon dioxide gas from said containers, and a partition secured to the body and arranged wholly below the containers, said partition having an air inlet passage arranged between the containers and an air outlet assage adjacent each container.

21. refrigeratin apparatus including a chamber to be coole a refrigerating holdtending at least partially across the exposed portion of the container.

23. A refrigerating apparatus including a chamber to be cooled, a refrigerant holding container secured to the' upper wallof the chamber, insulation for the upper Wall, said insulation partially enclosing said container, and an inner metallic lining secured to the insulation and extending at least partially across the exposed portion of the container.

24. In an air-cooled refrigerator car, a body and a roof constituting a chamber to be refrigerated, a metal ,lining for the chamber,

metal containers secured to the roof and arranged in non-heat insulated relation with the lining and with the interior of the chamber, said containers being adapted to hold solid carbondioxide and being closed against escape of gas into the interior of the chamber, and a partition in the body extending from side wall^to side wall and substantially from end to end dividing the chamber into an air-coolingzone and a refrigerating lading Azone, said partitions having air passages adapted to direct air between said zones'.

25. In a refrigerator car, a body, an insulated roof removable as a unit from the body and means for effecting refrigerating of the body comprising refrigerant holding containers partially embedded in thereof insulation and wholly supported by the roof,

and hollow conduits connecting the containers;

26. In a refrigerator car, a bod a roof Aremovable as a unit from the bo a longi" tudinally arranged refrigerant holdying containers secured to the roof adjacent the side portions thereof and supported wholly by said roof, transversely arranged refrigerant conduits .connecting saidcontainers, and a partition secured to the side walls of the body belowJ the containers and spaced therefrom for dividing the body into an airv cooling zone and a refrigerating lading zone.

V27. In a refrigerator car, a car body, an insulated roof `removable as a unit from the body, and refrigerant holding containers partially 'embedded in the insulation and wholly supported by the roof whereby they tainers being closed against escape of gas to the interior of the body and having charging openings 'extending through the roof, and hollow conduits connecting the containers adapted to receive gas subliming from the solid carbon dioxide.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. i

WILLIAM F. DIETRICHSON. 

